2008-02-22_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2008086 (39)

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CHAPTERFOUR Environmental Consequences and Mitigation This chapter is asite-specific analysis of potential impacts that could result from the implementation of a proposed action or alternatives to the proposed action. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze and disclose potential impacts of the federal actions on the human environment. The federal actions are the four applications received by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) described in Chapter 1, Purpose and Need, and the alternatives described in Chapter 2, Alternatives. The potential consequences (impacts) of each alternative are described in this chapter using the same order of the two resource topics ("Human Environment and Resource Use" and "Physical Resources") presented in Chapter 3, Affected Environment. Identical organization for Chapters 3 and 4 allows the reader to compare existing resource conditions (Chapter 3) to potential impacts (Chapter 4, Environmental Mitigation and Consequences) for the same resources. No Action Alternative This section describes the impacts that would result from the BLM choosing not to issue the permits to the applicants as described in Chapter 1; effectively not allowing the applicant to mine and sell the coal. Proposed Action Alternative This section describes the impacts that would result from the proposed mine and facilities, mine lease area, railroad, water pipeline, and transmission line. Temporary (i.e., construction) impacts are discussed, as well as permanent (i.e., life of project or longer) impacts. A detailed description of the proposed mitigation measures is included. Alternatives Carried Forward for Further Consideration The analysis of alternatives is essential to the NEPA process and the goal of objective decision- making. This section describes the impacts resulting from several alternatives to the proposed action: the grade-separated railroad crossing at CR M 8, the use of four-quadrant traffic control devices where the railroad intersects CR M8 and County Road (CR) 10, and the three transmission line alternatives. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Impacts This section contains a summary of the short-term and long-term impacts of the proposed action. Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources This section describes the resources that will be permanently compromised under the proposed action. Summary Table of Mitigation Measures A table is presented that summarizes the mitigation measures for all resources. Cumulative Impacts Cumulative impacts for past, present, and reasonably foreseeable projects and development in the project area and in Mesa and Garfield counties are discussed. The anticipated incremental impacts of the proposed action are compared with impacts from other projects/development including energy development in Mesa and Garfield counties. 4-1 DBMS 556